Chennai, Sept 26: The Asian leather giants, China and India, are charting new roadmap for co-operation in areas of tanning, products manufacturing, market information, environment protection and technological innovations. Proposals are also under way to give ‘focus country status’ to China in the India International Leather Fair (IILF) and to India in the Shangai Leather Fair and Asia Pacific Leather Fair (APLF). S Audiseshiah, Executive Director of Council for Leather Exports (CLE) told FE that India will be the focus country in Shanghai Fair in September 2005 and APLF in Hong Kong in February, 2006. “We have offered China the same status in IILF, in January, 2006. They are yet to confirm acceptance,” he said. Asia is becoming the hub for leather tanning. It is also emerging as the production centre for leather footwear and garments. With over $10 billion exports, China leads the world leather trade worth over $85 billion. Indian exports are about $2 billion. Still India is a very dominant player in the world leather market as the producer of best quality leathers, footwear, garments and leather goods. India holds about 10% of the raw material base of hides and skins. The India, China co-operation is spearheaded by leading industry associations. President of the All India Skin and Hide Tanners and Merchants’ Association, M Rafeeque Ahmed and the secretary general of China Leather Industry Association, Su Chaaying, have signed a MoU for cooperation in identified areas.